4.5 stars - A solid first album

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975.) Rainbow's first album.



Circa 1974, Ritchie Blackmore must have been tired of playing in Deep Purple, because after nine albums with them, he finally left. Elf was a blues rock act who opened for Deep Purple in recent years, and Blackmore was really into them. He joined forces with the members of that band, and his new band, Rainbow, was born! With future heavy metal star Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals, Blackmore and company set out to rock the world! Did they succeed with their first album? Read on and see.



The first thing I should probably point out is that this album, while a classic rock power album, is a far cry from Rainbow's later material - it's much more bluesy than their later material. This is because this is essentialy "an Elf album with Blackmore." But, what we get is a solid album nonetheless. The opener, Man On The Silver Mountain, is a solid classic hard rocker that would go on to become one of the band's biggest hits, as well as a fan favorite. If You Don't Like Rock 'N' Roll is the most bluesy track on the album, but it's still excellent. Another one of the excellent bluesy tunes here is Black Sheep Of The Family. And, of course, who could forget the gloomy yet melodic stylings of songs like Self Portrait and Catch The Rainbow? These are underrated classic rock masterpieces. The Temple Of The King and Sixteenth Century Greensleeves hint at a medieval sound, something that fascinated Blackmore (and would eventually destroy his career, but I'm not gonna get into that here.) A short but sweet instrumental entitled Still I'm Sad finishes off the album. All in all, a cool album.



THE TEXT IN THIS PARAGRAPH REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WARNER BROS. AMERICAN REISSUE OF THE ALBUM. The record company did a decent job remastering and rereleasing the Black Sabbath catalogue, as did they several other artists. Unfortunately, they didn't really do anything outside of improving the sound quality. You don't get expanded liner notes, interviews, bonus tracks, combined albums, or anything. Oh, well. I still think it's a damn fine album.



Even though Blackmore was no longer a part of Deep Purple, this album more than proved that he was still a capable rock artist. This was also the band that would really launch Ronnie James Dio's career - he'd become a big time heavy metal legend in the eighties. If you're a fan of Blackmore or Dio, or just good classic power rock, Rainbow's Dio-era material is some good stuff you simply can't overlook.

4.5 stars - an excellent album

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975.) Rainbow's first album.

Circa 1974, Ritchie Blackmore must have been tired of playing in Deep Purple, because after nine albums with them, he finally left. Elf was a blues rock act who opened for Deep Purple in recent years, and Blackmore was really into them. He joined forces with the members of that band, and his new band, Rainbow, was born! With future heavy metal star Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals, Blackmore and company set out to rock the world! Did they succeed with their first album? Read on and see.

The first thing I should probably point out is that this album, while a classic rock power album, is a far cry from Rainbow's later material - it's much more bluesy than their later material. This is because this is essentialy "an Elf album with Blackmore." But, what we get is a solid album nonetheless. The opener, Man On The Silver Mountain, is a solid classic hard rocker that would go on to become one of the band's biggest hits, as well as a fan favorite. If You Don't Like Rock 'N' Roll is the most bluesy track on the album, but it's still excellent (despite another reviewer's comment.) Another one of the excellent bluesy tunes here is Black Sheep Of The Family. And, of course, who could forget the gloomy yet melodic stylings of songs like Self Portrait and Catch The Rainbow? These are underrated classic rock masterpieces. The Temple Of The King and Sixteenth Century Greensleeves hint at a medieval sound, something that fascinated Blackmore (and would eventually destroy his career, but I'm not gonna get into that here.) A short but sweet instrumental entitled Still I'm Sad finishes off the album. All in all, a cool album.

Even though Blackmore was no longer a part of Deep Purple, this album more than proved that he was still a capable rock artist. This was also the band that would really launch Ronnie James Dio's career - he'd become a big time heavy metal legend in the eighties. If you're a fan of Blackmore or Dio, or just good classic power rock, Rainbow's Dio-era material is some good stuff you simply can't overlook.

More than a Decent Album

I keep reading reviews of Rainbow albums as decent or average, which is an understatement. While Rainbow never reached the musical heights of Deep Purple, the band was, in it's own right, influential in creating the gothic hard rock sound that so many derivative 80's English metal bands embraced. I admit that I AM biased in Blackmore's favor, but that's because he is THAT good of a guitarist and quite underrated.



Listen to each song, but don't waste your time on "If You Don't Love Rock and Roll," which elicits about as much emotion as watching lichens growing on rocks. However, "Man on the Silver Mountain" and "Self Portrait" are 70's metal classics.

Rainbow's Finest

After leaving Deep Purple, guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore launched a brand new band called Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio. This is their first and best album.

Here are discriptions of each song;



1-Man on the Silver Mountain, one of Rainbows most popular songs,but not one of my favourites.



2-Self Portrait, definately the best on the album, with a dramatic chorus and intense guitar, it's definately the best



3-Black Sheep of the Family, this was first recorded by Quartermass and it's definately a high point on the album



4-Catch the Rainbow, A very well done song with very interesting vocals



5-Snake Charmer, Not bad at all



6-Temple of the King, A nice ballad that shows that Blackmore isn't always a heavy metal wild-man



7-If You Don't Like Rock n Roll, Very strange indeed



8-Sixteenth Century Greensleeves, Simply a masterpiece



9-Still I'm Sad, I great instrumental to close the album



I highly recomend it to any true fan of the heavy metal/medievel genre. Enjoy!!

Searching for direction

It is obvious that Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio were searching for direction with their new band. Man on the Silver Mountain is a classic Blackmore riff and the lyrics are classic Dio-type medieval fantasy. After the first track though, the songs become very bluesy and its strange to hear Dio sing them. This album is by no means weak, but its not as powerful as what you would expect from Blackmore or Dio. "Rising", their follow up album, is much better and shows more direction. Still , anything with Blackmore or Dio, or together, will never get anything less than three stars.

The Original and the Best

This is by far my favorite album from Rainbow, hell, my favorite album in all of rock. Many will tell you that RISING is the best Rainbow album,and I totaly agree,RISING was the band at it's musical and creative peak and i love RISING but, i still preffer the warm magic charm of the debut album. Ever song here is pure musical genius, can't name a favorite because i love em all.

THE ORIGINAL IS USUALLY THE BEST...

...and I don't think this is any exception. With all due respect to some of the other reviewers, this album has more variety, and just out and out better compositons than "Rising" (which is a 5 star record itself). "Silver Mountain" has to be the trademark Rainbow riff/song. "Catch the Rainbow" is really Hendrix's "Little wing" reworked nicely. "Still I'm Sad" is Blackmores greatest instrumental track. "Black Sheep" is a track Ritchie always wanted to do with Purple (but they didn't). "Temple" and "Sixteenth..." are both proper examples of the hallmark dark, mystical imagery that best typifies the Blackmore/Dio collaboration. After this and "Rising", it was downhill, but who cares?